Food Packaging Material Safety Audit Checklist

A comprehensive checklist for auditing the safety and compliance of food packaging materials to ensure they meet regulatory standards and protect food quality.

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About This Checklist

Ensuring the safety and compliance of food packaging materials is crucial for protecting consumer health and maintaining regulatory compliance in the food and beverage industry. This Food Packaging Material Safety Audit Checklist is designed to help quality assurance professionals, packaging specialists, and food safety managers conduct thorough assessments of packaging materials used in food production. By addressing key areas such as material composition, migration testing, and supplier qualifications, this checklist helps identify potential risks and ensures that packaging materials meet stringent food safety standards. Regular use of this checklist can significantly reduce the risk of chemical contamination, extend product shelf life, and enhance overall food safety.

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Industry

Food and Beverage

Standard

Food Contact Materials Regulations

Workspaces

Food processing plants

Occupations

Quality Assurance Manager
Food Safety Specialist
Packaging Technologist
Regulatory Affairs Manager
Supply Chain Manager
1
Is the packaging compliant with EU Regulation No 1935/2004 and FDA 21 CFR 174-179?
2
Is there documentation available for the safety of food contact materials?
3
What is the maximum level of migration detected in the packaging material?
Min: 0
Target: 0.1
Max: 10
4
Is the supplier of the packaging materials qualified for food safety compliance?
5
Describe how the packaging complies with applicable regulations.
6
What is the assessed risk level of chemical contamination from the packaging?
7
What is the threshold for chemical migration established for the packaging?
Min: 0
Target: 0.5
Max: 5
8
What measures are in place to prevent chemical contamination?
9
When was the last chemical migration testing conducted?
10
Is the chemical migration testing compliant with industry standards?
11
What is the name of the packaging supplier being evaluated?
12
Does the supplier have relevant certifications for food safety?
13
What is the quality rating of the supplier based on previous audits?
Min: 1
Target: 4
Max: 5
14
Please provide a summary of the supplier's performance in previous audits.
15
When was the last audit conducted for this supplier?
16
What type of material is used in the food packaging?
17
What is the thickness of the packaging material?
Min: 0
Target: 0.5
Max: 10
18
Is the packaging material recyclable?
19
Provide details from the Material Safety Data Sheet for the packaging material.
20
When was the packaging material last approved for food contact?
21
Is there an established quality control process for packaging materials?
22
How many defects were found during the last quality control inspection?
Min: 0
Target: 2
Max: 100
23
What corrective actions have been implemented in response to defects?
24
When was the last quality control inspection conducted?
25
Please attach or describe the quality control procedures followed.

FAQs

Food packaging material safety audits should be conducted at least annually for each packaging supplier. However, more frequent audits may be necessary for new suppliers, high-risk materials, or when changes are made to packaging specifications.

Key components include reviewing supplier certifications, assessing material specifications, evaluating migration test results, checking compliance with relevant regulations, and verifying traceability systems for packaging materials.

Food packaging material safety audits are typically conducted by quality assurance managers, food safety specialists, or packaging technologists with expertise in food contact materials and relevant regulations.

Important tests include overall migration tests, specific migration tests for known substances, sensory evaluations, and tests for the presence of harmful chemicals such as bisphenols or phthalates.

Safe and appropriate packaging materials can help maintain food quality, prevent contamination, and create suitable barrier properties, all of which contribute to extending the shelf life of food products and ensuring their safety throughout the intended storage period.

Benefits of Food Packaging Material Safety Audit Checklist

Ensures compliance with food contact material regulations

Helps prevent chemical contamination from packaging materials

Improves traceability and supplier management

Reduces the risk of product recalls due to packaging-related issues

Enhances consumer trust in packaged food products